Boiler circulating device.



H. VICK.

BolvLER CIRCULATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGB| 19H. 1,292,932.l Patented Jan. 28,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. VICK.

BmLER CIRCULAHNG DEvlcE.

APPLCATION FILED AUG-8.1311. y 1,292,932. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HENRY VICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOILER CIRCULATING DEVICE.

T 0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Viox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler Circulating Devices; and I do hereby declare that the followino is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In boilers of the water-tube type, the circulation of the Water through the watertubes and the steam drum is usually unsatisfactory unless aided by mechanical mechanisms which, when installed, usually require a complete reconstruction of the boiler or a new boiler made to include the circulating mechanisms.

This invention relates to a circulating device for steam boiler plants, adapted to be readily installed within the steam drum of a boiler at the front end thereof without necessitatin a reconstruction of the boiler drum, and further adapted to be automatically operated by the flow of hot water and steam into the drum from the front header of the water-tubes to effect a circulation of the water through the Water-tubes and the steam drum and also preventing the entraining of moisture with the steam that enters the steam drum.

It is an object of this invention to construct a circulating device adapted to be readily installed in a steam boiler without necessitating any changes in the construction of said boiler.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a circulating and steam separating device for a boiler adapted to be automatically operated by the water and steam mixture entering the steam drum of the boiler to effect a circulation throughl the drum and watertubes of the boiler.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a circulating device for a boiler adapted to extend laterally across one end of the steam drum over the steam and water inlets and having frictional contact with the inner surface of the drum thereby dispensing with bolts, rivets or other devices that would necessitate perforating or otherwise valterin the drum.

Anot er object of the invention is to provide means, preferably controlled automatically by the flow of hot water and steam on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application led August 8, 1917. Serial No. 185,010.

wits way from the water-tubes to the steam drum, for at all times maintaining a circulation of water throughout the boiler, regardless of the temperature of the water within the boiler.

It is furthermore anobject of this invention to insure that a minimum quantity of moisture will be entrained with the steam and that which is entrained be precipitated before entering the steam space of the steam drum, and to this end the invention contemplates an auxiliary chamber of comparatively small capacity constructed within the steam drum and communicating at one end with the steam space of said drum and at the other end with the opening through the bottom of the steam drum through which hot water and steam enter it.

It is an important object of this invention to construct a device for aiding circulation adapted to be readily assembled inthe forward end of a steam drum, said device having means for` maintaining the water 0n its opposite sides and in the sight tube of the water gage at a common level.

Other and further important objects of this invention Will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through a horizontal water-tube type of boiler and setting, with parts shown in elevation, equipped with a circulating device embodying the principles of this invent1on.

Fig. 2 1s an enlarged sectional vlew taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with parts in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section, partly in elevation, taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 4, illustrating the equalizing means.

As shown in the drawings: i

The reference numeral 1, designates as a whole the brick and iron setting of a boiler of the water-tube type, having supported on vthe front and bridge walls thereof a plurality of parallelly arranged water-tubes 2, inclined at an angle with the` horizontal.

lsaid rear plate 14.

Said tubes have the lower or rear ends thereof expanded into a return or rear header 3, and the upper or front ends thereof expanded into an inlet or front header 4. The upper ends of the rear and front headers 3 and 4, are provided with openings registering with suitable openings in the bottom of a steam drum 5, of a lboiler which is disposed horizontally above the water-tulbes and headers.

The circulating device embodying the principles `of this invention comprises a plurality of parts adapted to be readily assembled in the interior of the steam drum 5, without requiring 'any changes in construction of any of the steam drum parts. The device as shown in the drawings consists of a front plate or partition 6, shaped to fit laterally across the interior of the steam drinn at right angles to the side walls thereof and flush with the front edge of the water and steam inlet opening 7, therein, and has the upper edge thereof positioned at about the middle of said steam drum. Disposed against the front or outer face of the front plate 6, and callred tightly around the curved margin thereof is a flat lead strip 8, curved to conform to the shape of the interior of the steam drum. Disposed adjacent the front face of the lead strip 8, and shaped to conform to the shape of the interior of the steam drum is an angle iron 9, which, together with said lead strip 8, is rigidly secured to the front plate 6, by means of rivets or ybolts l0, to afford a support for said front plate. The front plate 6, has a large inspection opening 11, therein, which is closed by means of a plate or inspection door 12, removably secured or clamped in position thereon to permit access to the interior of the device when assembled. Also formed in the front plate 6, below the inspection door 12, and on each side of the vertical center line thereof, is an equalizing opening 13, any number of which may, however, be provided.

Mounted laterally across the interior of the steam druin parallel to the front plate.

6, and flush with the rear edge of the inlet opening 7, is a rear plate or partition 14, shaped to conform to the curvature of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the steam drum, and having the upper edge thereof po sitioned about half way up the drum. Bearing against the outer face of the margin of the rear plate 14, and calked tight, is a lead strip 15, curved vto conform to the shape of the interior ofthe steam drum. Disposed to the outside of the lead strip 15, and held rigidly connected thereto and to the rear plate 14, by means of rivets or bolts 16, is an angle iron 17, curved to fit tightly against the curved interior surface of the steam drulm, and affording a suitable support for Provided in the rear plate 14, is a large inspection opening which extends upwardly to the upper margin of the rear 'plate 14. The inspection opening is closed by means of an inspection door or plate 18, positioned as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Also provided in the rear plate 14, and in the lead strip 15, are equalizing openings 19, positioned opposite the openings 13. The inspection door 18, has an outlet opening 20, in the low-er `central portion thereof, above which is rigidly secured on the outer surface of the inspection door, a stop 21. Pivotally mounted in the opening 20, is a counter-balanced tipping plate comprising a valve 22, disposed at the outside of the inspection door 18, and a larger plate 23, disposed at the opposite side of said door 18. 'The valve 22, is adapted when closed to shut the outlet opening 20. The larger plate 23, is formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the valve 22, `and is of a weight sufficient to normally counter-balance the valve 22, and hold the same in an open horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the larger plate 23, is also horizontally disposed to extend partly across the space between the front and rear plates 6 and 14, of the device. The counter-balanced. tipping plate is prevented from making a complete revolution by .means of the stop 21, against which the valve 22, abuts, thus lim-y iting ,the upward movement of said valve and the downward movement of the larger weighted plate 23. The object of the plates 6 and 14, is to form within the steam drum an auxiliary chamber of comparatively small capacity, lfwhich auxiliary chamber communicates at its top with the interior of the steam drum and at the bottom with the opening for the inlet of hot water and steam into the drum. The agitation of the water, due to ebullition and the rising of steam from the front header is practically confined to the auxiliary chamber, the water in the other parts of the steam drum being practically quiescent and standing at a common level Mounted upon the front end of the steam drum 5, is a water gage 32, provided with a sight tube 33. Rigidly secured horizontally between the front plate 6, and the rear plate 14, are a plurality of equalizing pipes 24, registering with the equalizing apertures or openings 13 and 19, to aord a means whereby the water on both sides of the device and in the sight tube 33, of the water gage will stand at a common level.

By thus connecting the water gage with plates at the proper distance apart. Rigidly secured to the upper margins of the front plate 6, the rear plate 14, and the inspection door 18, is a deflector in the form of a curved hood, pipe, or elbow 26, which is directed rearwardly and deflected downwardly, and is open at its rear end and at the bottom thereof to afford a suitable exit for water and steam from the auxiliary ebullition chamber into the steam drum of the boiler. The circulating device is held in position over the inlet opening 7, and is prevented from shifting longitudinally in the steam drum by means of plates or clamps 27, or other suitable means secured on the inner surfaces of the plates 6 and 14. Said plates 27, projecting into the opening 7, of the steam drum, as shown in Fig. 3. Rigidly secured between the plates 6 and 14, on each side of the hood 26, is a channel brace A28, to each of which is secured the lower ends of a plurality of upright expansion or thrust bolts 29, the upper ends of which are connected 'with the inwardly bent ends 30, of arched straps or braces 31, which are curved to conform to the curvature of the upper interior surface of the steam drum and have frictional contact therewith. Said thrust bolts tend to force the braces 31, firmly against the interior surface of the top of the steam drum and thereby causing a downward reaction against the plates 6 and 14, forcing them firmly against the interior surface of the bottom of the steam drum. From the description of the device and the manner of assembling and bracing the same within the 'steam drum of the boiler, it will be noted that no changes in the construction of the steam drum are necessary. The various parts of the device are adapted to be readily inserted through a suitable manhole (not shown) in the steam drum, and are assembled therein as described.

The operation is as follows:

Water admitted into the steam drum through suitable feed pipes, fills the water tubes' 2, and the headers 3 and 4, and rises up in the auxiliary ebullition chamber to the level of that in the drum. When the water-tubes are subjected to heat from a fire built in the fire-box of the boiler, the water within the water-tubes becomes heated and moves into the front. header 4, upwardly through the steam drum inlet 7, into the auxiliary ebullition chamber. The counterbalanced plate is normally disposed in a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The opening 20, in the rea-r in` spection door 18, is thus open, and permits the hot water rising from the tubes 2, to pass into the steam drum 5. The steam and heated water pass upwardly around the weighted plate 23, into the hood 26, and

drum. The water in the steam drum is thus started to circulate, and as the water becomes heated to a higher temperature and has a considerable quantity of steam therein, .the rapidity of circulation is increased, due to the tendency of the steam to rise rapidly in the water-tubes and the front header 4, of the boiler. The rush of the water and steam mixture upwardly through the auxiliary chamber as the temperature of the water increases, automatically forces the weighted plate 23, upwardly, thus simultaneously forcing the valve 22, downwardly into closed position to shut the opening 20, into the steam drum. The water and steam mixture accordingly passes upwardly into the hood 26, the water dropping into the lower portion of the steam drum and the steam filling the upper portion thereof. A very rapid circulation is thus established. Should the water become cooled so as to reduce the quantity of steam, the pressure of which is not sufficient to operate the weighted plate, the weight of said plate 23, will again force the valve 22, upwardly against the stop 21, thereby permitting the heated water to pass into the steam drum through the opening- 20, and the small quantity of steam to continue its upward course through the hood 26. The circulation of the water through the boiler is thus automatically controlled, the quantity of steam in the heated water acting as a means to operate the counterbalanced valve 22. To permit the water to rise in the steam drum on both vsides of the circulating device and circulate through the water-tubes, and also rise in the sight tube 33, of the water gage 32, the equalizing pipes 24, are connected between the plates 6 and 14.

It will, of course, be understood that the circulating device may be installed in any type of water-tube boiler without necessitating any changes in the construction of any of the parts of the steam drum, the plates 6 and 14, and other parts being shaped to fit within the particular steam drum to be equipped with the device. By means of the plates 27, and the thrust bolts 29, and braces 31, the device is readily secured against movement within the steam drum. Due to the arrangement of the inspection doors 12 and 18, access to the interior of the device is readily had to permit cleaning or repairs to be made when required.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circulating device for use in a steam pass into the upper portion of the steamedrum, arched members within said drum,

and adjustablemeans between said device and said arched members for securely bracing the device within said steam drum.

2. The combination with asteam drum, of a circulating device therein, and adjustably mounted arched straps connected therewith adapted to contact the upper surface of the steam drum to hold the device braced against the bottom of said steam drum to prevent movement o' the device.

3. The combination with a boiler drum, of automatically acting circulating means therein, adjustable bracing means connected therewith adapted to hold said circulating means braced in position within the drinn, an equalizing means forming a part of said circulating means to permit water to pass through said circulating` means to equalize the pressure on both sides thereof.

e. In a device of the class described, the combination with a steam drum having an inlet opening therein, of circulating` means disposed over said inlet opening, mechanisms connected therewith adapted to hold said means securely braced laterally across said steam drum, removable members forming a part of said circulating means, and pivoted means on one ot said members adapted to be automatically operated to effect a circulation of water through said steam drum.

5. A circulating device of the class described adaptable for use in a boiler drum and comprising front and rear plates securely connected one to the other, inspection means on each of said plates, and pivoted means on one of said inspection means adapted to be actuated to control the circulation of water and steam through said boiler drum.

6. In a circulating device of the class described comprising a pair of plates, inspection means removably secured thereon, and a damper on one of said inspection means to control the flow of water and steam through the device.

7. In a steam drum circulating device of the class described, a pair of plates secured to one another, a counterbalanced damper pivoted on one of said plates controlling an opening therein, and a hood secured upon said plates to afford an outlet for water and steam passing between said plates, said damper adaped to be actuated by the flow of water and steam between said plates to effect a circulation of water in the steam drum.

8. In a circulating device of the class described adapted for use in a boiler drum, a pair of plates disposed laterally across the interior of the boiler drum on opposite sides of an inlet opening formed therein, equalizing means secured between said plates to .permit water to pass through the' device to equalize the pressure on both sides thereof, a hood secured on said plates, and pivoted means on one of said plates controlling an opening in said plate, said pivoted means struction of said drum, and automatically acting counterbalanced means forming a part of said device adapted to be operated by a steam and water mixture passing through the device to cause a circulation of water in said drum.

10. rllhe combination with a boiler drum, of water .circulating means pressed in position between the longitudinal walls of the drum, inspection members, forming a part of said means, and pivoted means forming a part of one of said members adapted to effect a circulation through the drum.

l1. A boiler circulating device comprising parallel plates disposed laterally across the interior of the boiler drum on opposite sides of the inlet opening from the water-tubesof the boiler, equalizing pipes between said plates to permit allot' the water in the boiler drum to be circulated, a stop on one of said plates, a counterbalanced damper pivotally mounted on said plate and projecting through an opening therein, said damper normally contacting said stop to open said opening in said plate to permit heated water to pass into the drum, a rearwardly directed hood secured on said plates having outlets therein, said da-mper adapted to be movedto close the opening in said plate when the quantity of steam in the water becomes excessive, whereby the steam and water pass through said hood into the upper portion of the drum, thereby eecting a rapid circulationv through the water tubes and the boiler drum.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY vioK. i

' Witnesses: i v

CHARLES W. HiLLs,-Jr., EARL M. I-IARDINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oilatczits,

Washington. L Y 

